There was a sense of momentum in Huntly this week as Catholic Education Sandhurst marked an important milestone in the development of the new St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School.
On Tuesday 21 April, the first sod was officially turned, signalling the beginning of construction on a school that will serve a growing and increasingly connected community.
Backed by $6 million in Federal Government funding, the project reflects a strong partnership focused on delivering high-quality education in areas experiencing rapid growth.
Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Kate Fogarty, said the new school is both a response to community need and an investment in the future.
“As communities grow so too must our capacity to respond with high-quality, values-driven education,” she said.
“This new school is an important step forward and a sign of our confidence in the future of the Huntly region.”
Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, said the investment will help ensure local families have access to the facilities they need close to home.
“Our Federal Government is proud to work alongside partners like Catholic Education Sandhurst to support communities like Huntly as they grow,” she said.
“This is about making sure families have access to quality education now and into the future.”
Principal Paul Wilkinson, who will lead the new school when it opens in 2027, said the level of interest from local families has been encouraging.
“Our recent information evening was well attended, and we’re already seeing strong interest in enrolments,” he said.
“I’d encourage families to come along to our next session to learn more about what this new school community will offer.”
When it opens in January 2027, St Thomas Aquinas will welcome students from Foundation to Year 2, with plans to grow alongside the community. The school will also include an onsite kindergarten, offering both three-year-old and four-year-old programs through Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care.
Designed to support contemporary learning and connection, the new school will provide purpose-built spaces where students are known, supported and encouraged to grow.
Pictured (L-R): Matt Soulsby (Director - Y2 Architects), Carla Jeffrey (Chief Early Childhood Officer - SCECE&C), Kate Fogarty (Executive Director - Catholic Education Sandhurst), Paul Wilkinson (Principal - St Thomas Aquinas), Lisa Chesters (Federal Member for Bendigo), James Chettle and Chris McGregor (Director's of Raysett Constructions)